Finding Our Way Home: Research on Indigenous Homelessness in Surrey - Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee

Finding Our Way Home: Research on Indigenous Homelessness in Surrey

The Finding Our Way Home project is an initiative of Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee (SUILC) to examine the following questions within the Surrey context:

• Who are the Indigenous people experiencing homelessness in Surrey and what are their stories?

• What are the pathways of Indigenous people into homelessness in Surrey?

• What services and supports exist in the community to assist Indigenous people experiencing homelessness?

• How might services and supports be improved to reduce then eliminate Indigenous homelessness in Surrey?

Here are all 4 documents and key findings of this work:

PART 1: RESEARCH REPORT ON INDIGENOUS HOMELESSNESS IN CANADA

PART 2: WHAT WE HEARD REPORT

PART 3: DATA SUMMARY

PART 4: FINAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

At least 635 Indigenous individuals are estimated to have experienced homelessness in Surrey as of 2020, a rate of 1 in 26 Indigenous people living in Surrey compared to 1 in 239 non-Indigenous people.

With a rental vacancy rate of 0.6% as of 2021 and a BC Housing waitlist of 2,554 as of 2019, Surrey simply does not have the affordable housing supply to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Compounding this, Surrey has a deficit of Indigenous housing options. Despite similar urban Indigenous populations, Surrey had less than one-fifth the number of Indigenous housing units as Vancouver.

There is an urgent need to act. More deeply affordable non-market units – led by and in collaboration with Indigenous organizations – are needed to create exit pathways for those experiencing homelessness. Without more housing options, more Indigenous people will be put at risk of homelessness. And without exit pathways, those currently homeless will face more severe and long-term erosion in their health, social connections, and trust in the systems that are meant to provide assistance.

All Our Relations: Honouring the Host Nations

Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee's work takes place on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Katize, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo First Nations. We recognize their connection to this land and acknowledge that we are newcomers to Surrey like everyone else. Our group, the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee does not represent these land-based First Nations and we are careful not to speak on their behalf. Instead, we represent urban Indigenous people that have moved here from all over BC and Canada to make Surrey their home. Our focus is making Surrey a great place for Indigenous people living in the city — regardless of where they come from, their legal status, or their particular culture heritage. As we do this, we endeavour to live in a good way with the land-based First Nations that have called this land their home since time immemorial.